Mystery cough in DD

[tink123]

DD is 8 and since I can remember she gets a hacking cough everytime she gets a cold to the point where she misses loads of school days when she gets a cold.

She has always had a sensitive gag/cough reflex from sensory issues and coughs when she gets hiccups or laughs too hard.

I thought maybe it was asthma but she has no wheeze and her cough is mainly through the day from what seems like post-nasal drip. She does not cough when she exercises, and her cough always clears up between colds. She seems to go most of summer months without coughing.

I have a GP appt next week and don't know whether to ask if we can try an inhaler or decongestant medicine.

I was wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone...

[penguin70]

Not really but some experience of a mystery cough.

My DS who has just turned 9 has had a cough since before Christmas. For a day or two he was under the weather but no actual 'cold'. Its a hacking barking cough that didn't get better after 3 weeks and I went to the GP. Initial diagnosis was whooping cough but that can be treated with ABs - we had 4 courses, oral steroids and nothing has helped.

2 trips to hospital specialists - 1st didn't want us there, our GP had insisted so that that was complete waste of time with a vague virus being to blame though she didn't look at a previous xray or listen to his chest. 2nd consultant much more sympathetic, prescribed steroid nasal spray to stop any mucus dripping down the back of the throat and possibly causing cough which perhaps is happening in your DD 's case.

Wasn't the solution in ours but during the last history that was taken I was asked if he had reflux to which I said no to. Very next day he showed me the food that had just come up into his mouth YUCK! and . Now on ulcer meds and waiting for another hospital appointment for that. Still coughing- I don't think there's going to be a quick solution.

Asthma has been mentioned in passing and been told inhaler may be given if nothing else works but unlikely to start at age 8,and since he doesn't get worse at night or during exercise, doesn't wheeze etc v unlikely.

I wish you lots of luck and will keep watching this with interest.

[tink123]

Thanks for that.

She does have a degree of reflux but I did not think that was likely cause as always happens when she has a virus and then goes away within two weeks.

I think post nasal drip is likely cause as you can hear it pocketing in her throat whilst she is asleep. I have just gone and bought some medised to see if that makes any difference

Good luck with your ds and hope he feels better soon. Coughing is so draining, isn't it :(